Restaurant Style Delicious Paneer Butter Masala

Paneer is a staple for vegetarians in India not only because it’s so tasty but also because it’s a great source of protein. I find the many many variations of paneer absolutely fascinating and this richy variation of paneer in a creamy sauce is my go to comfort food. Paneer butter masala is called by many names in India, from paneer butter masala, paneer lababdar to paneer pasanda, each with a small variation in the ingredients and the proportion of cream.

This rich variation uses a combination of cashews and cream to add a creamy and nutty flavour to the curry. This is beautifully balanced with a spicy tomato base that lends itself perfectly to tasty cubes of paneer. Some people keep the paneer cubes in boiled water for a few minutes before adding them to the gravy. I am happy with the texture of the paneer I buy so I skip this step.

While the name is paneer butter masala, I have tried to keep the amount of butter and cream to a proportion that balances taste with health consciousness. You do not have to layer on the cream to bring out the flavours from the gravy and in this recipe, I have tried to keep flavour front of mind. Vary the thickness of the gravy according to your personal preference and what you are planning to serve the curry with.

If serving with rice, I find that a slightly runnier gravy works better than a thicker gravy which I find is ideal to serve with a roti or naan. In India, especially in North India, paneer dishes are usually served with raw onions and some lemon – not my personal favourite serving suggestion, but the flavours do work well together, so feel free to try.

Paneer can be bought ready made from most supermarkets or you can even make paneer at home. Home made paneer experiments is for another day though!

Categories

Meet Chef Andreia

Hi and Welcome to Dont ask 4 Salt blog, my name is Andreia and this is where I post my best vegetarian recipes and my favourite places to eat in London. Follow me on instagram and facebook to get more recipes…read more